Delhi Police have arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the building that housed the Flourish Stay guest house in Malviya Nagar, where a fire killed 21 people on Wednesday. An FIR has been registered under charges including culpable homicide.   Investigators allege the property was operating without a mandatory fire NOC and was violating several safety norms. Officials said the building had a single entry-exit point, sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, which may have hampered evacuation during the fire.   Police also suspect the guest house exceeded its approved capacity, allegedly running around 25 rooms despite permission for only six. Authorities have launched a wider inspection drive across Delhi to identify similar safety violations. (PC: HT)

Eight members of a Gurugram family were among the 21 people killed in the devastating fire at Delhi's Flourish Stay hotel in Malviya Nagar on Wednesday. Vivek Agarwal, a chartered accountant, had travelled to Delhi with his wife, two daughters and four relatives to visit his ailing father, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.   The family was having breakfast at the hotel when the fire broke out. All eight died in the tragedy, leaving Vivek's 80-year-old father as the only immediate survivor.   Authorities said the fire spread rapidly through the five-storey building. Investigators are examining possible safety violations, including reports that the hotel was operating far more rooms than permitted under its licence. (PC: NDTV)

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two major schemes worth nearly ₹20,000 crore. A ₹10,000-crore Fuel Price Stabilisation Fund will help keep aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices stable for airlines amid rising global oil prices. The government said the move will reduce pressure on airlines and help control airfare fluctuations. The Cabinet also cleared a ₹9,585-crore clean transport scheme for Delhi-NCR. The programme aims to replace old trucks and buses with cleaner BS-VI and electric vehicles. Officials said the scheme will help reduce air pollution, lower fuel use and support cleaner transport across the region.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) faced criticism after announcing an all-male team of spokespersons ahead of its planned protest in Delhi. Critics, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, questioned the lack of female representation. Responding to the criticism, founder Abhijeet Dipke said, “We respect their decision,” explaining that female team members chose not to take public-facing roles because of online threats and attacks. He invited more women to join the movement as spokespersons. CJP recently named three spokespersons and said they will lead public communication efforts. The group plans to hold a protest over examination-related issues.

At least 21 people were killed in a devastating fire at a hotel building in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday, with 18 of the victims identified as foreign nationals. According to officials, those killed included citizens of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Somalia and Liberia.   The fire broke out in a five-storey bed-and-breakfast building in the Hauz Rani area. Authorities are investigating the cause, with initial suspicion shifting from a cylinder blast to a possible short circuit.   Around 10 police personnel were injured during rescue operations. Firefighters and police teams rushed to the scene and evacuated several occupants as investigations into the tragedy continue. (PC: HT)

At least 21 people, including several foreign nationals, were killed after a massive fire broke out at the Flourish Stay hotel in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning. More than 40 people were rescued from the five-storey building as firefighters carried out a large-scale operation.   The blaze reportedly started in a basement restaurant before spreading rapidly through the hotel and a neighbouring property. Witnesses said some guests jumped from windows to escape the flames and thick smoke. Authorities are investigating whether the hotel violated safety norms, with reports suggesting it was operating more rooms than permitted under its licence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia assistance for the victims' families and the injured. (PC: NDTV)

A group of masked men allegedly vandalised educator Khan Sir's coaching centre in Patna on Tuesday night, damaging property and injuring a security guard. CCTV footage reportedly shows around a dozen attackers throwing bricks, tearing down posters and flex banners, and vandalising the institute premises.   Khan Sir said he rushed to the centre after being informed of the attack. He claimed the institute had recently received threats following a felicitation programme for students selected in the Bihar Police recruitment exam. Police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage. Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma said preliminary findings suggest some students may have been involved in the incident. 

At least 16 people were killed and 37 others rescued after a major fire broke out at a hotel operating above the Lemon Green restaurant in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning. Delhi Fire Services received the emergency call at 9:45 am and launched a large-scale rescue operation.   Officials said those rescued from the basement were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities suspect the fire may have originated in the restaurant, though the exact cause will be determined after an investigation. Several people were feared trapped when the blaze erupted. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed grief over the loss of lives and said all necessary assistance was being provided to affected families. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Supreme Court has held that voluntary sex work by consenting adults is not unlawful under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) and directed police not to harass or detain adult sex workers found during raids. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the law does not authorise action against adults engaged in sex work by choice, though operating a brothel remains illegal. The court ruled that rehabilitation cannot be imposed against a sex worker’s will and must be based on consent. Hearing a plea on protecting trafficking victims’ rights, the bench criticised the ITPA’s “one-size-fits-all” approach and called for individual assessment in rehabilitation decisions. (PC: X)

The Maharashtra government has purchased Mumbai's landmark Air India building for Rs 1,601 crore. The building was bought from Air India Assets Holding Limited. The state plans to shift several government offices there, many of which currently operate from rented spaces across Mumbai. The move is expected to reduce rental costs and improve coordination between departments. The building offers over 46,000 square metres of office space near the Mantralaya. Renovation work will be carried out by the Public Works Department, and the building is expected to be ready within a year. Air India put the property up for sale in 2018. (PC: Getty Images)